Just Moved House With A Cat

[mandimoo]

.... How long should I keep him indoors for? He's driving us crazy cos he's bored and dying to get out!

[grasscarp]

Not sure what to say so looked on line. Found this:
All cats are different and boast their own unique personalities, as such you may find your moggy settles in to their new home in no time at all. However, other cats are more nervous and get more stressed out when things around them change, In short, they may need a little longer to settle down in their new environment which means you have to show your pet a lot of patience and give them all the time they need to settle down. Once you are happy they are no longer stressed, anxious or scared of their new surroundings, then and only then should you let them out into the garden, but make sure you always leave a door or a window open so they can get back inside when they think they need to!

[Alex99]

I kept my cat in for a month, but here's a few useful tips

http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Cat-from-Running-Away-when-It-Is-Moved

[Daffy6543]

I've always kept mine in for at least two weeks when I've moved house with them. I did have one cat who was with me through several moves and she could go out first day and always came home, she was an oddity though :)

[tonyav]

When we last moved house just over six years ago we kept her in for the first day and let her out the next day, she was fine.

[Baldric]

Gawd knows, we moved just over 2 yrs ago, OH + ex RM mate were last out of old house, rang me, in new house, to say couldn't find cat, at the time me + 2 ex RM mates + cat were in kitchen of new property having a break, never did find out how cat got moved but one ex RM did have a reputation for catching anything furry (but he usually ate it).

[baza]

It may be an old wives tale but putting butter on a cats paws is supposed to stop it wandering. Tried it with 2 rescue cats and neither wandered off.

[Old_Geezer]

Have pity on your neighbours, forever.

[murraymints]

I put mine on a lead walked him around the garden and let him mark the boundary..then let him out..no problems

[jaynethepain]

As long as you can stand it! Don't feed them before they go out, I work on the assumption that they will come home if they are hungry

[DTCwordfan]

Is that your cat or the OH, minty?

[murraymints]

oh ..HE is not allowed out on his own yet ! lol

[seekeerz]

also think about the environment you've moved into ....if there's paddocks around and no cars, and he's a bold soul, then sooner rather than later, however if it's a town or a busy street area, then I'd be keeping him close to home if you can. :))

[TheChair]

Baza's suggestion is a good one, and not an old wive's tale.
When you first let the cat out, its instinct is to go racing off exploring, and, if it goes to far, it may well try to find its way to its old home, rather than the new one..
Putting butter on the cat's feet causes it to keep pausing to lick the butter off, which give it time to become familiar with its new surroundings.
My wife and I have been involved with cat rescue for 15 years, and have found this to be very effective.